AFP to stop CPP-NPA from ousting Duterte, end insurgency by mid-2019

The Military is determined to suppress any attempt by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's  Army to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Edgard Arevalo made the remark a day after CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison declared that the President is delusional in claiming that the government is winning its war against the communists, and the leftist insurgency will end by second quarter of next year.

“The number of NPA regulars and supporters surrendering in droves with their firearms is phenomenal. Their guerrilla fronts were either dismantled or downgraded. High-ranking leaders of this terrorist group are neutralized in succession. These are what the CPP-NPA continues to ignore or refuses to accept,” Arevalo said.

“It’s more like them whistling in the dark. Or this could be NPA rhetoric to project capability and entice other groups to join them in their bid to topple the President. The AFP will ensure that they will not succeed,” Arevalo added.

He echoed President Duterte's pronouncements that the military will win its war against the NPA by middle of 2019.

“We are on the right track in our campaign to [destroy] the NPA by the middle of next year. Given the resolve of the current administration, and the cooperation of other agencies of government,  the Armed Forces is confident that it will succeed,” Arevalo added.

The military has claimed that over 4,000 members of the have NPA surrendered to government authorities since Duterte became President on June 30, 2016. —Llanesca T. Panti/LBG, GMA News